Las Vegas makes excess the whole point of dinner, and the Valley is ready to ante up. We’re talking fire, extravagance, a touch of gold, and a bit of theater with the meal.
These six Scottsdale and Tempe spots are an excuse to play high roller for an evening, with celebrity names on the doors, a cocktail lounge behind a confessional, and a flaming tomahawk served from the flame used by fire dancers. Put on the dress that’s been waiting for an occasion, and consider the “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” rule before heading out for an exciting evening.
JING Scottsdale: Let the Good Times Roll
A little tableside ceremony suits JING’s appetite for excess. The Wagyu Hot Rock brings thinly sliced beef accompanied by an ishiyaki hot stone, wasabi ponzu, and Himalayan salt. Choose between Imperial Reserve A10 or the more splurgy Japanese A5 wagyu.
Up the ante with a suitably lavish Scottsdale King roll, which combines bluefin tuna and gold uni with shrimp tempura. Short Rib Dumplings take another route to indulgence, pairing braised beef with mozzarella and soy caramel.
A DJ helps shape the vibes as the room takes on what chef Thomas Griese called an “ultra lounge feel” later in the evening. Griese also has a hand in the soundtrack, passing song discoveries along to colleagues as he learns his way around a DJ controller at home. 10605 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, jingrestaurant.com
Luna by Giada: The Headliner
With two restaurants in Las Vegas preceding her Scottsdale ventures, Giada De Laurentiis has the headliner credentials for an Arizona encore. Luna by Giada occupies the first floor of Caesars Republic Scottsdale, where the menu draws on her Roman ancestry and California influences.
Start with Sicilian Focaccia with lemon-mascarpone butter, like a true Italian. Follow the citrus to Signature Lemon Spaghetti, a popular order built around lemon butter sauce. Mascarpone adds richness, while basil and crisp capers accompany the sautéed shrimp.
For more showmanship, the menu offers Tableside Chicken Parmigiana with pomodoro sauce and fresh mozzarella. It is a familiar comfort dish taking a well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
The Italian indulgence continues through dessert, including Lemon Mascarpone Cheesecake with a biscotti crust and blueberry. The lemon provides a through-line through this particular meal like any Vegas act knows how to carry. Not a lemon fan? Giada’s menu provides as many options as there are ways to gamble in Las Vegas. 4747 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, lunabygiadascottsdale.com
Roman God of Fire and Mia Culpa: A Little Sin City
Las Vegas hardly has a monopoly on playing with an empire for the evening. At Roman God of Fire, large statues and cathedral-style arches make for a decidedly opulent setting. Chef Scott Conant collaborated with Pretty Decent Concepts on the restaurant, with wood-fired Italian cooking at the center of the menu.
Pizza Bianca arrives with whipped ricotta and honey, while Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia con Aragosta pairs squid ink pasta with lobster and ginger soffritto. The steak selection includes a 32-ounce Porterhouse alla Brace cooked over wood fire, providing another reason to bring a betting partner or three.
The Sin City comparison gets a wink at Mia Culpa, the cocktail lounge hidden within the restaurant behind an entrance resembling a Catholic confessional. Illuminated arches frame a bar backed by organ-like pipes. For a night of indulgence, any gluttony can be quickly absolved and is conveniently close. 52 E. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, romangodoffire.co
Maple & Ash: Playing for High Steaks
Executive chef Cody Finch sees the Scottsdale dining room as an extension of a city where people come to celebrate. “We take the food seriously, but we don’t think fine dining has to feel stiff,” he said.
Lobster Dumplings with an Oloroso Sherry and lobster emulsion offer a rich opening move. For the main event, The Eisenhower puts 40 ounces of porterhouse directly into the coals, giving a big appetite something lavish to work on.
The menu’s “Arm Candy” section lets diners dress up a steak with Roasted Bone Marrow or Beefed Up Butter. It’s an invitation to double down on dinner and see if you or that top button on your pants wins the night. 7135 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 130, Scottsdale, mapleandash.com
Wolf by Vanderpump: The Wild Card
Lisa Vanderpump and designer Nick Alain bring their taste for extravagant rooms to the seventh floor of Caesars Republic, with Camelback Mountain providing the scenery outside. Wolf-head details appear in the furniture, art, almost everywhere one looks for them, giving the restaurant’s namesake a place at dinner. It’s opulent and over the top, much like its founder is known for.
The menu even finds a way to gild basic concepts into something lavish. Caviar & Chips pair caviar and crème fraîche with sea salt and chive chips, finishing the presentation with 18-karat gold flakes.
Prime Ribeye Tagliata with salsa verde gives the evening a true Vegas steakhouse turn, while Brisket & Tri Tip Bolognese brings braised beef and lemon mascarpone to paccheri pasta, providing a rich meal to lay all your cards out for. 4747 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, wolfbyvanderpumpscottsdale.com
Toca Madera: Dinner With a Floor Show
If your steak isn’t on fire, did you even have dinner? At Toca Madera there’s no question. With the Flaming Tomahawk, diners watch the steak’s finishing touches from their seats. The Mexican-inspired menu gives fajitas a little stage in A La Roca, served on heated lava stone.
Offerings branch out from steak with ceviches and other seafood dishes to share. Fire dancers perform every night; live music and sets from resident DJs fill out the weekly entertainment calendar. There is already a Toca Madera in Las Vegas, though Scottsdale clearly has its own claim to the show now.
Ghost Rider and Scorched Earth keep the bar’s hand in play. For a coffee cocktail after dinner, there’s the Carajillo, a restaurant signature. 4736 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, tocamadera.com
